April 4 was World Stray Animals Day. In response to the declaration of 2017 as the start of the era of zero stray animal euthanasia in Hsinchu County shelters, sterilization in place of euthanasia is being promoted and extra manpower has been allocated for inspection of animal protection cases; animal protection advocacy meetings will also be regularly held. Magistrate Chiu aims to manage the stray animal problem from the source and implement animal protection policy. He exhorted the public to “If you love it don’t abandon it” and “If you love it, adopt it.”
In response to the end of stray animal euthanasia in 2017, the county government is attaching much importance to stray animal source management. To implement animal protection policy, from 2015 the county government increased the sterilization subsidy budget. After registering their pets and completing sterilization at a veterinary hospital cooperating with the county government, county residents can receive a subsidy of NT$500 for male dog or cat and NT$1000 for a female dog or cat. The subsidy is intended to encourage people to have their pets sterilized to prevent unwanted pet pregnancies and avoid the situation whereby the puppies and kittens that are born end up as stays and eventually cause a social problem. Sterilization instead of euthanasia is the policy direction the county government is actively pursuing.
Also, this year additional Animal Protection Officers will be appointed. The Officers will actively be engage in animal protection case inspection, their key work including examining applications from new pet shops, checking of existing pet shop businesses and closing down illegal puppy farms. Also, owner responsibility education will be promoted, advocacy meetings regularly held and free chip implantation and pet registration offered, with advocacy meetings held in various cities and townships. Owners who are found to have failed to register their dogs after being persuaded to do so will be subject to administrative punishment under the Animal Protection Act.
The county government has drafted three main animal protection plans. First, dog catching and sheltering units will be integrated so that the “front” management and “back” shelter are unified, taking management to the source. Second, the fee-charging plan has been drafted and, while the actual amount is still being discussed, it is known that the fee will be the highest in Taiwan. Third, precision capture will be emphasized, finding a balance between the safety of the public and animals’ right to exist to reduce the number of animals in shelters to a minimum.
Animal protection work is being improved year by year in Hsinchu County. The adoption rate has increased from 26% in 2010, the year magistrate Chiu took office, to 78% in 2016, showing that the hard work of county government staff has borne fruit. The county government also calls on the public to do their part with regards to animal protection.